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Kevin Durant praises Suns 2-way players Washington Jr., Gillespie after Rockets loss

Originally posted on Burn City Sports | By Connor Moreno | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 7:11 PM ET

From giving Bol Bol starting minutes to throwing two-way guard TyTy Washington Jr. out on the court for first quarter spot minutes, Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer reached for the end of the bench for any sort of energy ahead of the All-Star break.

And, missing Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in a 119-111 loss to the Houston Rockets, Budenholzer found some in Washington Jr. and his G League Valley Suns two-way teammate Collin Gillespie. And Suns All-Star forward Kevin Durant took notice and praised playing with them.

“I loved hooping with them today,” Durant said after the loss. “Last night playing with TyTy, tonight with Collin. They’re dogs, man. They don’t care what the moment is, who is on the floor, what gym they’re in, they’re going to go out there and play ball.”

Washington Jr. has played in each of the last three Suns games, averaging 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 19.9 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 11 points against the Rockets on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Phoenix native was selected for the G League Up Next Game for his production with the Valley Suns.

Gillespie played a season-high 14 minutes against the Rockets, scoring nine points on 4-for-8 shooting, also a season-high. The second-year guard has also been making noise in the G League, putting up a 19-point, 18-assist, 12-rebound triple-double against the San Diego Clippers on Monday.

With the All-Star break giving players like Beal and Booker time to recover, there’s no telling whether or not the two-way guards will see the main stage again, but the impact they left was felt, even by Durant.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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